Facing Future: Farmers, Processors, and Policymakers Chart Course for Hemp in 2021 at 3rd Annual Winter Hemp Summit Virtual Conference & Networking Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Facing Future: Farmers, Processors, and Policymakers Chart Course for Hemp in 2021 at 3rd Annual Winter Hemp Summit Virtual Conference & Networking Event
We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA) Kicks off the New Year with Release of Hemp Industry Opportunities Report, Insight and Trends at Virtual Series, January 14, 2021.
What: 3rd Annual Winter Hemp Summit Virtual Conference & Networking Event
When: Thursday, January 14, 2021, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Register HERE: Tickets are $49 each.
Denver, CO (December 21, 2020) – How does an industry chart a course for the future of hemp in uncertain times? Find out at the 3rd Annual Winter Hemp Summit Virtual Conference & Networking Event, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Thursday, January 14, 2021. Produced by We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA) and powered by NoCo Hemp Expo and Let's Talk Hemp, the Winter Hemp Summit is a must-attend event for the community to stay informed and plan for the future.
From the elation of 2018, when hemp was legalized across the U.S., to an uncertain market in 2020, not to mention the coronavirus pandemic, the hemp industry's road to success over the past few years has been rocky at best, but certainly no less exciting than creating an entirely new market.
With new developments in Congress, along with groundbreaking rulings in Europe and the United Nations, 2021 holds much promise for those who continue to dedicate themselves to building infrastructure and advancing the market for this remarkable plant.
“Hemp’s legacy is riding on what our community does today. As we kick off the New Year, this is a pivotal time to discuss the future that includes innovative technology and opportunities for advancement,” says Morris Beegle Let’s Talk Hemp Media Co-founder and Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo. “It’s vital to understand the new rules and regulations and how the policies will impact everyone – from the field to the manufacturing facility to the consumer."
Beegle adds the robust lineup of industry experts and leaders will provide insight into hemp’s growth in the past year, new trends, solutions in the marketplace, and what to expect in 2021.
Notable Industry Speakers
The 3rd Annual Winter Hemp Summit Virtual Conference & Networking Event will feature industry experts including Kate Greenberg, Colorado’s Agriculture Commissioner; Wendy Mosher, New West Genetics; and Eric Steenstra, of Vote Hemp. Their expertise will include a detailed look at the regulated market for supplements, including Bill, H.R. 8179, the Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2020, and what it means for companies.
Panelists also will define current rules and regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Attendees will receive an overview of the Colorado Hemp Advancement & Management Plan (CHAMP) and hear how U.S. grown fiber is an integral part of the specialty products' supply chain. Further discussions will include genetic development and what's on the horizon for farmers, processors, and distributors with a global perspective into 2021-2022.
For more information on the Winter Hemp Summit's agenda and additional speakers, visit https://winterhempsummit.com/.
2021 Market Report
Winter Hemp Summit attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the Hemp Industry Opportunities Report for 2021, including key pieces of knowledge needed for planning the year. (A $149 value).
Register for the 3rd Annual Winter Hemp Summit
The Winter Hemp Summit is a must-attend industry event and registration is now available online with continued viewing through January 31, 2021. Register today for a full day of programming, networking and hours of recorded hemp presentations. Tickets are $49 each: https://on.spingo.com/eh/WAFBA_Virtual.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Are you interested in sponsoring the Winter Hemp Summit? Limited spaces are available for the virtual conference and interactive networking event. Find out more by downloading our sponsor package at https://winterhempsummit.com/
About Let’s Talk Hemp Media
Let's Talk Hemp is a leading media platform that focuses on Hemp News, Lifestyle & Education. We curate news, education, and information about hemp and cannabis to our podcast listeners, newsletter subscribers, and digital magazine readers to learn more about the industry and get tips and tricks on the latest technologies. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn about everything from legal updates, farming, production, and new products entering the hemp and cannabis space. Let's Talk Hemp is a publication of the Colorado Hemp Company (a division of We Are For Better Alternatives WAFBA) focused specifically on industrial hemp and cannabis. Let’s Talk Hemp features news globally and shares the benefits of cannabis on health, energy, manufacturing, and the planet (HEMP). Subscribe to Let’s Talk Hemp’s weekly hemp and cannabis industry newsletter at www.letstalkhemp.com.
About Colorado Hemp Company
The Colorado Hemp Company, the producer of the 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo (NoCo7), is a leading organization for the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education, and legalization in the USA. The entire team is committed to researching and developing alternatives so that hemp can once again thrive and help individuals and communities throughout America and around the globe.
Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Morris Beegle, Colorado Hemp Company, 970.541.0448, info@nocohempexpo.com.
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Top Industry Experts John Mackey, Winona LaDuke and Blair Kellison to Headline Compass Coffee Talk™ in Q1 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Top Industry Experts John Mackey, Winona LaDuke and Blair Kellison to Headline Compass Coffee Talk™ in Q1 2021
Join the Conversation! Hear Insights and Words of Wisdom from Notable Entrepreneurs and thought leaders on Season 2 of Compass Coffee Talk, presented by Compass Natural
What: Compass Coffee Talk™
Save the Date(s):
Winona LaDuke, Water Protector, Hemp Farmer, Jan. 13, 2021, 11:30 am – 12:00 pm EST
John Mackey, CEO, Whole Foods Market, Feb. 25, 2021, 11:30 am – 12:15 pm EST
Blair Kellison, CEO, Traditional Medicinals, Mar. 17, 2021, 11:30 am – 12:00 pm EST
To Register: Click on Each Date Above, FREE on Zoom
Presented By: Compass Natural, Connecting Media and Markets in Natural and Organic Products
Sponsored By: Allegro Coffee
Boulder, CO (December 17, 2020) – Kick off the New Year with Compass Coffee Talk™, a lively webinar series featuring conversations with industry leaders, including Whole Foods Market Co-Founder and CEO John Mackey and Traditional Medicinals CEO Blair Kellison, plus hemp expert and Native American tribal leader Winona LaDuke. Compass Coffee Talk is pleased to announce the return of its second season starting January 2021, with robust programming designed to help guide entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to succeed in the marketplace.
Featured guest Winona LaDuke, a globally recognized Hemp Ambassador, and Water Rights Protector, will join the program on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 11:30 am – Noon, EST, via ZOOM. LaDuke will discuss the possibility of a green economy, water rights, and her non-profit Honor the Earth, in addition to sharing her recent experience of protecting the land in her home state of Minnesota against the threat of corporate expansion.
Compass Coffee Talk’s co-hosts Steve Hoffman and Bill Capsalis are honored by Winona LaDuke’s participation on the show. "This will be an extraordinary and unique episode of Compass Coffee Talk in which we hear from former Vice-Presidential candidate and tribal leader Winona LaDuke, who will share a message from Honor the Earth, the future of hemp, and the ongoing activism against pipelines that threaten our water – and how the natural products community can help,” says Steven Hoffman, Founder of Compass Natural Marketing.
John Mackey and Conscious Leadership
John Mackey, the Co-Founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, will speak in a rare natural products industry interview with Compass Coffee Talk on Thursday, February 25, 2021, 11:30 am – Noon, EST. Mackey co-authored the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling book entitled, “Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business” (Harvard Business Review Press 2013), which boldly defends and reimagines capitalism and encourages a way of doing business that is grounded in ethical consciousness. Mackey will discuss his latest book, “Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business,” a follow-up to groundbreaking bestseller Conscious Capitalism — revealing what it takes to lead a purpose-driven, sustainable business.
Return to Tradition
Rounding out the first quarter, Traditional Medicinals CEO Blair Kellison will share the legacy and story of tea's healing power on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 11:30 am – Noon, EST. Hear the founding story behind one of the most successful, globally-known tea brands and its keys to success.
Featured Guest Biographies
Winona LaDuke is a rural development economist and author working on issues of Indigenous Economics, Food, and Energy Policy. She lives and works on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota and is the Executive Director of Honor the Earth (HtE). She co-founded HtE with music artists, The Indigo Girls, as a platform to raise awareness of and money for indigenous struggles for environmental justice. She works nationally and internationally on climate change, renewable energy, and environmental justice alongside Indigenous communities. She is the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, one of the country's largest reservation-based non-profit organizations.
John Mackey, Co-Founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, has built the natural and organic grocer from a single store in Austin, Texas in 1978, into a Fortune 500 company, which went public in 1992, and was purchased by Amazon in 2017. Today, Whole Foods Market is a top U.S. supermarket with more than 500 stores and 95,000 Team Members across the U.S., Canada, and U.K. While devoting his career to helping shoppers satisfy their lifestyle needs with quality natural and organic foods, Mackey has also focused on building a more conscious way of doing business.
Blair Kellison is the CEO of Traditional Medicinals, a mission-driven, organic, and fair trade wellness tea company based in Sonoma County, CA. Co-founded by Drake Sadler in 1974, Traditional Medicinals' purpose-driven social business model has resulted in five decades of commercial success and created a truly sustainable organization. Traditional Medicinals is now the 4th largest bagged tea brand in North America, with distribution in 70,000 retail outlets and over 200 employees. Blair came to Traditional Medicinals in 2008 in its 34th year to partner with the co-founder Drake Sadler and become the company's first non-founder CEO. Blair is a former CPA with Ernst & Young, a brand manager with Nestle, and he received his MBA from Booth at The University of Chicago.
Allegro Coffee Powers Compass Coffee Talk™
Compass Coffee Talk gives special thanks to its lead sponsor, Colorado-based Allegro Coffee. Each episode, one webinar attendee will receive a free bag of Allegro Coffee, a specialty coffee company that believes that where and how coffee is grown matters. Since 1977, Allegro Coffee has remained committed to sourcing the highest quality coffee from farmers dedicated to environmental stewardship and worker livelihood.
About Compass Coffee Talk™
Compass Coffee Talk™ features lively interactive conversations with industry leaders and experts designed to help guide entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to succeed in the marketplace. Hosted by natural and organic products industry veterans Bill Capsalis and Steve Hoffman, Compass Coffee Talk is produced by Compass Natural Marketing, a leading P.R., branding, and business development agency serving the natural and organic products industry.
Contact
Bill Capsalis, Host, 303.808.3441, bill@compassnaturalmarketing.com
Steven Hoffman, Host, 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
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Founding Farmer: Ryan Loflin Talks on Hemp
By Steven Hoffman
Known as the first modern-day farmer in the U.S. to harvest an industrial hemp crop after decades of prohibition, Colorado hemp producer Ryan Loflin shares his trailblazing tale
It takes a village. At least it did in the late fall of 2013, when, lacking migrant workers who had all left for Texas for the winter, Colorado farmer Ryan Loflin put out a call on social media for his friends to help. In all, about 60 people from six states showed up to assist in the first harvest of an industrial hemp crop in the U.S. in more than 70 years.
Now, Ryan will be the first to tell you he wasn’t the first to plant industrial hemp. In that, he tips his cap to other hemp trailblazers, including California’s Chris Boucher, and South Dakota tribal leader Alex White Plume, who planted industrial hemp years before him, but whose crops were seized by government authorities before they could be harvested. Thus, Loflin’s status in the hemp community as the first modern-day farmer to harvest a crop of industrial hemp on U.S. soil.
In 2013, hemp was not quite legal yet; that didn’t happen until the 2014 Farm Bill, which allowed for moderate production, says Loflin. Speaking of the authorities who could have seized his first crop – a half-crop circle of 60 acres – “They just didn’t show up. I actually put it out on Twitter and Facebook; I was transparent, because I needed the help. People showed up from all over the country, but thankfully, the authorities didn’t,” he says.
Speaking of soil, Loflin’s third generation family farm, 900 acres in all (300 irrigated acres and 600 acres in grass and dryland), is located in Baca County, an arid, high plains region in southeastern Colorado, only 25 miles from the epicenter of the Dust Bowl that devastated farms and Western communities in the 1930s.
Organic and Regenerative Approach
For the dryness of the area, combined with Loflin’s concerns about how climate change is affecting his farm – “It’s a part of everyday life for us, now” – he has always focused on organic and now regenerative production practices that focus on rebuilding and capturing organic matter, or carbon, back into the soil.
“We practice organic and regenerative farming because we have to,” Ryan says. “We’ve been conscious of cover crops the whole time, so we never leave the soil bare during the winter, where carbon can escape into the atmosphere. We plant winter wheat, or triticale, or oats as winter cover crops,” he adds. The farm also grows sorghum, another drought-resistant grain crop, in rotation with hemp, alfalfa and other commodity crops.
Cattle, too, are an integral part of Loflin’s regenerative practices. “We let them graze in the wintered fields with either cover crop or feed stubble we leave from the sorghum.” Their manure helps add organic material back into the soil, Ryan notes.
For organic pest control, corn ear worms can be a problem with hemp flowers, and grasshoppers can be a significant problem in hemp. “There’s not much you can do, but I mix a spray of garlic and neem oils, and I ‘harass’ them out,” Loflin says.
Since his first crop in 2013, Loflin has grown up to 250 acres of hemp, but has pulled back, based on recent market conditions. “We’re thinking of planting a half-crop circle, minimum, in 2021,” Ryan shares, “but we’re still going to see where the market goes in 2021.”
Focus on Fiber
In recent years, Loflin’s farm, Rocky Mountain Hemp (www.rockymountainhemp.farm), has focused on hemp production for fiber, as well as hemp seed for food and for planting future crops.
In the fiber business, Loflin is a collaborator with Mike McGuire, owner of Western Fiber. Founded in 1976, the company offers textile fibers, hemp-based panels and insulation for the building, construction and automotive industries, animal bedding products and livestock feed.
“We’ve replaced traditional insulation materials with hemp bast and hurd – long and short fibers – and developed a process to blow that insulation into walls, floors, ceilings, etc.,” Loflin notes. “It’s a more natural and potentially safer, insulation from a renewable source,” he adds.
“We still have a lot of opportunity with the hemp industry in that it is a multi-use crop, it’s a ‘multi-dimensional’ crop,” Ryan emphasizes. We can use it for food, animal feed, housing, clothing, medicine – we are just getting started! We also need to look more seriously at building houses with this material – not just hempcrete, but making everything you see in the home out of it. In the wildfire areas of the West, we could build hempcrete homes that won’t burn. We need to change the way we think about building homes…and where,” Loflin muses.
Outlook for the Future
“In agriculture alone across the board, it’s crazy right now with tariffs and trade,” Ryan says. “For hemp farmers,” we need investment in processing and we need industry to step up – the American auto industry needs to be put on point for hemp,” Loflin opines.
While CBD helped build awareness for the hemp plant, “the all-star uses of this plant is in automobiles, composites, construction, plastics, fibers – hemp can make everything work better, and is less toxic,” he notes.
While Loflin is carefully watching how the USDA’s new rulings for 2021 will affect hemp producers, it will come down to states’ rights, he believes. “Colorado has been very supportive. In 2012, I was at the state capitol advocating for programs to use hemp for phytoremediation in contaminated sites. Today, Colorado State University offers a course in hemp production,” he adds.
“My advice for producers in 2021: keep fighting,” Loflin offers. “Don’t quit because agriculture is hard right now. It can be a high pressure lifestyle and many question whether it’s worth it, but I believe it is.”
House’s Historic MORE Act Would Legalize Cannabis; Expunge Criminal Records
By Steven Hoffman
The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, was passed on December 4 by the U.S. House of Representatives. The historic bill to decriminalize marijuana marks the first time a full chamber of U.S. Congress has taken up the issue of federally decriminalizing cannabis. The bill received bipartisan support, and was passed by a 228-164 majority.
The MORE Act – H.R. 3884 – would remove cannabis from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminate criminal penalties for anyone who manufacturers, distributes or possesses marijuana, The Denver Channel reported.
Originally championed by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and former California Senator and now Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the MORE Act would add $13.7 billion to the federal budget, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and would cut federal prison spending by nearly $1 billion. The Act also would establish a process to expunge marijuana-related convictions and criminal penalties.
“H.R. 3884 would federally decriminalize cannabis (marijuana), expunge the records of people convicted of federal cannabis offenses, and require re-sentencing of some federal prisoners. As a result, CBO estimates, thousands of current inmates would be released earlier than under current law,” the federal agency said in its report.
“In the future, decriminalization also would reduce the number of people in federal prisons and the amount of time federal inmates serve. In total, over the 2021-2030 period, CBO estimates that H.R. 3884 would reduce time served by 73,000 person-years, among existing and future inmates. CBO’s analysis accounts for time served by offenders convicted of cannabis-only crimes and by those convicted of another crime in addition to a cannabis offense,” CBO added.
The bill, according to The Denver Channel, also would include the following changes:
Under the bill, statutory references marijuana would be replaced with the word cannabis.
The legislation would require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees.
A 5% tax on cannabis products would be imposed and require revenues to be deposited into a trust fund established to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs.
The bill would make Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers.
The MORE Act would prohibit the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions, as well as ban the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event.
The bill would direct the Government Accountability Office to study the societal impact of cannabis legalization.
After the bill passed, lead sponsor Rep. Nadler said the following in a statement:
“This long overdue legislation would reverse the failed policy of criminalizing marijuana on the federal level and would take steps to address the heavy toll this policy has taken across the country, particularly on communities of color.
“The use of marijuana, which most likely originated in Asia, later spread to Europe, and made its way to the Americas when the Jamestown settlers brought it with them across the Atlantic. The cannabis plant has been widely grown in the United States and was used as a component in fabrics during the middle of the 19th century. During that time period, cannabis was also widely used as a treatment for a multitude of ailments, including muscle spasms, headaches, cramps, asthma, and diabetes.
“It was only in the early part of the 20th century that marijuana began to be criminalized in the United States—mainly because of misinformation and hysteria, based at least in part on racially-biased stereotypes connecting marijuana use and people of color, particularly African-Americans and Latinos. In 1970, when President Nixon announced the War on Drugs and signed the Controlled Substances Act into law, the federal government placed marijuana on Schedule I, the most restrictive schedule that is attached to the most serious criminal penalties, where—unfairly and unjustifiably—it has remained ever since.
“As a consequence of this decision, thousands of individuals—overwhelmingly people of color—have been subjected, by the federal government, to unjust prison sentences for marijuana offenses. It is time for this manifest injustice to end. The MORE Act would remove marijuana from Schedule I and the Controlled Substances Act altogether, thereby decriminalizing it at the Federal level.
“This is only fair, particularly because the same racial animus motivating the enactment of marijuana laws also led to racially disproportionate enforcement of such laws, which has had a substantial, negative impact on communities of color. In fact, nationwide, the communities that have been most harmed by marijuana enforcement are benefitting the least from the legal marijuana marketplace.”
While historic, the bill is expected to meet resistance in the U.S. Senate. “The legislation is, for now, almost certainly doomed in the Republican-led Senate, where that party’s leaders have derided it as a superficial distraction from the work of passing coronavirus relief, as lawmakers inched toward bipartisan compromise after spending months locked in an impasse,” reported the New York Times.
To date, 15 states have legalized recreational cannabis, and voters in five states approved cannabis legalization measures in the November 2020 elections. In total 35 states have passed medical or recreational marijuana legislation, reported the New York Times.
In related news, Let’s Talk Hemp reported in October about a bill introduced in September in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 8179, that would “make hemp, cannabidiol derived from hemp, and any other ingredient derived from hemp lawful for use under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as a dietary ingredient in a dietary supplement, and for other purposes.” The Bill, H.R. 8179, the Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2020, if passed, it would allow hemp-derived CBD and other hemp-derived ingredients to be legally marketed as an ingredient in dietary supplements, as long as the products comply with current legal requirements for new dietary ingredients, as well as other requirements pertaining to dietary supplements under federal law. For more information on H.R. 8179, visit the U.S. Hemp Roundtable at www.hempsupporter.com.
HempWood’s Global Journey to Success: From Shanghai to Kentucky
By Heather Collins
These days, in business, it takes a little bit of luck and several calculated risks to reap the rewards. That has certainly been the case for Greg Wilson, the Founder of HempWood, a wood substitute and hemp lumber manufacturer.
“When I first started HempWood, people jokingly referred to it as ‘weed wood,'” recalls Wilson. “People simply didn’t realize hemp’s potential, but once the Farm Bill passed, everyone was curious about the benefits and sustainability associated with the new crop.”
Fifteen years prior, Wilson studied abroad then lived in China and Australia, where he worked closely with bamboo and eucalyptus as an alternative to oak and pine. Wilson adds, “Back then, hemp wasn’t really on my radar. I was taking the time to learn everything about sustainable wood production. Once I discovered that hemp was similar to bamboo, it dawned on me that maybe hemp could also serve as a sustainable and viable solution.”
Once back in the States, Wilson knew he was onto something with hemp. In 2016, he studied the intricacies of hemp, including how it was grown, processed, and used in building supplies.
“It started as a numbers game, which is why our parent company is named Fibonacci – the mathematical equation in plants. I applied my engineering experience and background and created an algorithm that would lead us to where we are today – the first of its kind manufacturer that transforms hemp fibers and protein-based bonding agents into wood,” explains Wilson.
Oak’s Out. Hemp’s In.
Based in Murray, Kentucky, HempWood creates flooring, furniture, wood frames, and woodturning materials – all made out of hemp – for artisans and craftsmen nationwide. The company’s 16,500-square-foot factory is modeled after the bamboo production facility in China where Wilson’s idea of working with sustainable wood was first introduced.
Everyone who works at the facility follows the same founding principle, “to help the environment by removing the devastating effects of deforestation from the harvesting process.”
“Hemp is far superior and is 20 percent stronger than oak – it’s eco-friendly, renewable, and grows faster. We like to say that, ‘anything oak can do, hemp can do better,’ which means we can substitute our patented HempWood for anything made with solid oak,” notes Wilson.
HempWood Rocks
Musicians are also tuning in to HempWood’s unique innovation and design details. Many artists from around the globe are creating custom-made guitars, ukuleles and other wood-based instruments from HempWood’s raw materials.
Morris Beegle, Entrepreneur and Let’s Talk Hemp Media Co-founder, Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, utilizes HempWood to create guitars, guitar cabinets, combo amps, and guitar straps for the Silver Mountain Hemp Guitars brand.
Morris Beegle, entrepreneur and Let’s Talk Hemp Media co-founder, utilizes HempWood to create guitars, guitar cabinets, combo amps, and soon, bass guitars and percussion instruments for the Silver Mountain Hemp Guitars brand. Beegle anticipates as awareness increases, more musicians will be curious about playing hemp-based musical gear, not only for the eco-earth friendly craftsmanship, but to support the industrial hemp community and it’s ingenuity and innovation from companies such as HempWood.
Partners in the Field
HempWood plans to open licensing facilities in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Canada, and Europe in the coming years, with hemp lumber readily available at retail outlets in Colorado and Tennessee.
“My goal is to make more products and then leverage HempWood and take it to the next level by making our materials more accessible to everyone, everywhere,” adds Wilson.
Wilson gives Murray State University’s Center for Agricultural Hemp office, including local and state officials, credit for taking a chance on his company and dream. The Murray State Center for Agricultural Hemp is a national leader in agricultural hemp development and serves as a leader in research, education, policy, and innovation within the hemp industry. HempWood proudly serves as a sponsor of the hemp office at Murray State.
“Thanks to Murray State, the people of Kentucky, and the hemp community, we’ve been able to make a positive impact on the environment, be a steward to nature, and thrive together for the betterment of our planet. We look forward to creating new products and outfitting homes and buildings for future generations to enjoy.”
For more information on the many uses of HempWood and its parent company Fibonacci, visit hempwood.com. HempWood also is a proud sponsor of the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo.
Global Equipment Leader New Holland Agriculture’s Direct Advantage in Hemp Innovation
By Heather Collins
When Pennsylvania-based New Holland Agriculture, a global 125-year old farm machinery brand, identified an opportunity in hemp, the company went straight to the root of the problem by breaking ground on its own dedicated 15-acre testing farm.
“We wanted to better understand the complexities of hemp by farming it ourselves, which explains why we took the time and effort to discover more about this fibrous crop. More importantly, we wanted to ensure that our haymaking equipment and harvesting equipment worked properly with hemp,” said Jon Hundley, Marketing Manager, New Holland Agriculture.
Hundley adds, “We’re the only major equipment manufacturing company that has a working test farm at its headquarters. This gives New Holland Agriculture an advantage because we know firsthand what farmers require when out in the field.”
Known around the world as a leader in advancing the agriculture industry, New Holland Agriculture’s complete line of equipment includes harvesting and packaging solutions that are readily available to meet today’s hemp farmers’ needs.
“The ‘in-the-hemp-field’ experience gave our team perspective on how our company can better serve as advocates for hemp farmers and continue to push the industry forward,” adds Hundley.
Hemp, which is similar in structure to hay, is relatively new to New Holland Agriculture’s traditional commodity portfolio with specialties in corn, wheat, and other crops. That’s why the field team took the time to learn everything about hemp before planting to its dedicated end-use.
As Hundley points out, the headquarters hemp team quickly realized that it takes more than having the right equipment. “We found that field preparation is extremely important. Despite the lack of rain, we had a nice yield, and our equipment worked effectively”.
New Holland Agriculture is proudly celebrating its 125th year of serving farmers on a global scale and believes hemp can play a pivotal role in the future of agriculture. “It’s all about educating the ag industry about the opportunities that hemp provides from a farming and innovation perspective,” says Hundley. “We have opened many new doors and partnerships through hemp and see it as a way to vertically integrate our company.”
Partners in the Field
New Holland Agriculture works closely with Pennsylvania State University’s Extension office and relies on their expertise for the role hemp plays in the ever-evolving industry. “We’re fortunate to collaborate with Penn State and as the interaction provides our team with credible, unbiased analysis, data and key information on the hemp industry,” says Hundley. “Through this partnership, we are positioned as a hemp proponent when it comes to regulation and standards.”
The Penn State Extension office works with various entities to further the hemp industry by hosting informational webinars, in-person workshops and serves as an additional resource for farmers interested in learning more about the viable crop.
This year, New Holland Agriculture also announced a partnership with the National Hemp Association, a nonpartisan hemp advocacy group. Through this alliance, New Holland Agriculture intends to leverage its active role in hemp policy and progress. “We’re taking a close look at what hemp can do and how it can innovate. For example, we are seeing automakers integrate hemp materials in their automobiles. This type of innovation indicates that farmers need to know what the end use is before they plant.”
Hemp Farming: The Next Frontier
As the hemp industry continues to evolve, Hundley indicates that innovation is always top of mind at New Holland Agriculture, “The future of hemp is in fiber, and we’re excited to be a part of the next frontier in farming and serve as a resource for farmers.”
New Holland Agriculture’s product offerings, including its harvesting, cutting and baling equipment, are already being used in hemp farming operations, and Hundley believes that the company will grow with the industry. “Hemp is an unbelievable opportunity for future farmers and the next generation because it is such a new commodity, and the crop excites young farmers who are ready to grow something new.”
Hundley predicts as hemp becomes a viable crop in more states that more farmers will plant it as a secondary crop to diversify. “That’s where the excitement is with hemp. It provides the opportunity to do something different for the betterment of the future.”
Hundley advises, “As New Holland Ag continues to work in the hemp frontier, additional information will be available through local dealerships. We’re proud to be on the cutting edge of this industry and look forward to helping generations.” For additional information and support, contact your local New Holland dealer.
New Holland Agriculture is a proud Sponsor of the NoCo Hemp Expo Hall, scheduled for 2021, where attendees can view the hemp machinery equipment and meet with New Holland Agriculture representatives.
Grocery Stores Remain Relevant As Physical Retail Space Suffers During Pandemic
Photo: Pixabay
This article originally appeared in the December edition of Presence Marketing’s Industry Newsletter
By Steven Hoffman
“We are clearly overretailed in America,” Byron Carlock, director of U.S. retail estate practice for London-based Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), told Fast Company in November. “Suburban sprawl created a situation where we just believed that every time there was a new intersection with four corners we needed to put up four strip centers. We’re learning differently now,” he told Fast Company.
According to PwC, average retail space for countries including France, Germany, the U.K. and Japan is less than 5 square feet per person, vs. in the U.S., where physical retail spaces averages more than 23 square feet per person. In other larger countries like the U.S., retail space is higher: in Canada, average retail space is 16 square feet per person; in Australia it’s approximately 11 square feet per person, according to PwC.
As e-commerce sales continue to grow, analysts were already seeing brick and mortar retail space shrink and transform before then pandemic. Now, however, “some prognosticators think we’re not only overretailed, we’re underdemolished,” Carlock said. “There will be retail that will be demolished and repurposed, and then there will be retail that continues to support our lifestyles and is relevant and is useful and is important,” he told Fast Company.
As the pandemic changes the face of retailing, PwC says that “necessity-based” retail, including grocery stores, pharmacies and other “neighborhood-oriented” retailers will remain relevant. Carlock estimated that physical retail space in the U.S. may ultimately looks more like Canada’s average 16 square feet, representing a 30% decrease in physical retail space in the U.S.
As retail rents drop – Fast Company reported that in New York alone, retail rents in major commercial areas have declined approximately 13% in the third quarter 2020 – the repurposing and reuse of former retail space in desirable areas may be on the rise. In addition, Carlock told Fast Company that the demolition of existing underused retail can make use for other residential or mixed use development.
Court Rules FDA Violated Environmental Laws in Approving GMO Salmon
Photo: Pixabay
This article originally appeared in the December edition of Presence Marketing’s Industry Newsletter
By Steven Hoffman
A federal judge in San Francisco on November 5 ordered the US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to re-evaluate its approval of genetically modified salmon based on ecological concerns if the GMO salmon were to escape into the wild.
FDA in 2015 approved the commercialization of Maynard, MA-based AquaBounty Technologies’ genetically engineered “AquAdvantage” salmon, finding it had no significant impact. Five years later, however, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California agreed with environmental groups who shared concern that the GMO salmon could escape to damage wild salmon populations, reported Food Safety News.
According to a statement by Earthjustice, “The court ruled that FDA ignored the serious environmental consequences of approving genetically engineered salmon and the full extent of plans to grow and commercialize the salmon in the U.S. and around the world, violating the National Environmental Policy Act. The court also ruled that FDA’s unilateral decision that genetically engineered salmon could have no possible effect on endangered, wild Atlantic salmon was wrong, in violation of the Endangered Species Act,” Earthjustice said. “FDA must now thoroughly analyze the environmental consequences of an escape of genetically engineered salmon into the wild,” it added.
In a 16-page decision, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria rejected FDA’s position that it has no duty to consider environmental impacts when reviewing applications to breed genetically modified animals. “Even if the FDA is correct that environmental considerations writ large were not relevant to its decision, the agency is always required to consider the subset of environmental impacts that directly involve the health of animals or humans,” Judge Chhabria wrote.
“This decision underscores what scientists have been telling FDA for years—that creating genetically engineered salmon poses an unacceptable risk if the fish escape and interact with our wild salmon and that FDA must understand that risk to prevent harm,” said Earthjustice managing attorney Steve Mashuda. “Our efforts should be focused on saving the wild salmon populations we already have—not manufacturing new species that pose yet another threat to their survival.”
According to Alaska Public Media, AquaBounty Technologies President and CEO Sylvia Wulf released a statement saying the company is “disappointed” by the ruling. But she said it won’t impact operations at its egg growing facility on Prince Edward Island, Canada, or its fish farm in Albany, Indiana.
“It’s a terrible idea to design genetically engineered ‘Frankenfish’ which, when they escape into the wild (as they inevitably will), could destroy our irreplaceable salmon runs,” said Mike Conroy, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (PCFFA), in the Earthjustice statement. “Once engineered genes are introduced into the wild salmon gene pool, it cannot be undone. This decision is a major victory for wild salmon, salmon fishing families and dependent communities, and salmon conservation efforts everywhere,” he said.
Researchers Find 20% of Grocery Workers Tested Positive in May for Covid-19; Most Were Asymptomatic
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This article originally appeared in the December edition of Presence Marketing’s Industry Newsletter
By Steven Hoffman
In a study published on October 29 in the peer-reviewed journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 20% of 104 grocery workers tested at a store in Boston in May tested positive for Covid-19. In addition, three out of four workers (76%) who tested positive showed no symptoms.
This was a significantly higher rate of infection than what was seen in the surrounding communities at the time (0.9 – 1.3%), said the Harvard University researchers who conducted the study entitled “Association Between SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Exposure Risk and Mental Health among a Cohort of Essential Retail Workers in the USA.”
The study authors added that grocery workers who had a customer-facing role were five times as likely to test positive for Covid-19 as co-workers in other positions. Those in supervisory roles were six times more likely to test positive for Covid-19 than co-workers in other types of roles, after accounting for potentially influential factors such as the prevalence of Covid-19 infections where they lived, the researchers said.
While the study sample was focused on just one store, “This is the first study to demonstrate the significant asymptomatic infection rate, exposure risks, and associated psychological distress of grocery retail essential workers during the pandemic,” the authors stated.
“In this single store sample, we found a considerable asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among grocery workers. Employees with direct customer exposure were five times more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2.” In addition, “those able to practice social distancing consistently at work had significantly lower risk of anxiety or depression,” the researchers concluded.
According to the study, workers who were less likely to practice social distancing consistently at work and more likely to commute to work on public transport or shared rides were more likely to report depressive symptoms. Those able to walk or bike to work or drive their own car were less likely to report depressive symptoms.
Since the study was conducted, many retailers have implemented mask requirements, plexiglass barriers and other social distancing practices. “I do think for stores and states with mask mandate, we most likely would not see this kind of numbers,” Dr. Justin Yang, one of the study’s co-authors, told Fox News on October 30. “But for stores and states without a mask mandate, this scenario could very well happen in other stores as well.”
The study’s authors believe their findings support "the policy recommendations that employers and government officials should take actions on implementing preventive strategies and administrative arrangements, such as methods to reduce interpersonal contact, repeat and routine SARS-CoV-2 employee testing, to ensure the health and safety of essential workers." In addition, the authors stated, "Our significant mental health finding calls for action in providing comprehensive employee assistance services to help essential workers cope with the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic."
2020 Election: Cannabis and Hemp/CBD Enjoy Bipartisan Support
This article originally appeared in the December edition of Presence Marketing’s Industry Newsletter
By Steven Hoffman
In a country divided, there was one thing in the 2020 elections that enjoyed bipartisan support, and that was cannabis.
In New Jersey, 67% of voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana for people age 21 and over. The new recreational market is expected to generate $1.9 billion in sales in the state, resulting in $126 million in sales tax revenue, according the estimates from New Jersey’s Office of Legislative Services, reported Bloomberg News,.
In all, five more states in the U.S. approved ballot measures legalizing cannabis use for adults, including Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota. Prior to the 2020 election, 11 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized marijuana.
According to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, “It would be premature to proclaim the Biden/Harris Administration as pro-cannabis. But while both Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris once took adverse positions, their campaign called for the de-criminalization of marijuana and expungement of convictions. This should translate to a Department of Justice that will place a much lower priority on policing levels of THC in hemp and hemp extracts.”
Jonathan Miller, General Counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, told Let’s Talk Hemp, “We are increasingly optimistic about hemp’s political prospects. Nearly all of our biggest supporters, from both parties, won reelection, and the likely changes among the political leadership at FDA, USDA and DEA could help resolve some of the more difficult issues that farmers and the industry have been facing.”
According to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, hemp industry champions in Congress scored some victories on Election Day 2020:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who led the fight for hemp’s legalization in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills, won reelection by a more than 20 point margin in Kentucky. It is still not clear whether McConnell will remain Majority Leader, but even if Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate, hemp will be secure under the leadership of Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (and McConnell would remain a powerful force as Minority Leader.)
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who has led efforts to pressure the USDA and FDA into support for the hemp and CBD industries, won reelection by a nearly 20 point margin as well.
Cannabis champion Senator Corey Gardner (R-CO) lost by a wide margin, but his victorious opponent, John Hickenlooper, oversaw one of the first successful state hemp programs in Colorado and should be an industry ally.
Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), lead sponsors of HR 8179-- critical legislation that would open up a legal pathway for the sale of hemp-derived CBD as a dietary supplement – cruised in their reelection bids.
Reps. David Joyce (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), authors of a strong letter to DEA, urging that agency to withdraw its troublesome interim final rule on hemp, won overwhelming re-election victories.
U.S. Hemp Roundtable also reported “One sour note: longtime hemp champion, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) lost a hard-fought battle for re-election in an overwhelmingly Republican district. The hemp industry owes Rep. Peterson a huge debt of gratitude for his important work on the 2018 Farm Bill, introducing legislation to protect hemp-derived CBD, and most recently, helping secure an extension for states to operate under the 2014 Farm Bill. We look forward to working with his replacement as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee,” the hemp advocacy organization said in a statement.
In related news, voters in Oregon approved the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of drugs, and a separate ballot initiative made the state the first to legalize therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms. In Washington, D.C., voters passed a measure to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms and other psychedelic plants and fungi, reported NBC News. (The City of Denver, CO, was the first to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms in 2019). Speaking in Oregon, Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, told the Associated Press, “Today’s victory is a landmark declaration that the time has come to stop criminalizing people for drug use.”